Shopping bag



. Dec. 5, 1950 L. MIN.TZES 2,532,778

SHOPPING BAG I Filed Feb. 24, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

LOUIS MINTZES INVENTOR 35 BMW ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1950 L.IMINTZES SHOPPING BAG Filed Feb. 24, 1948 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,Lbuls mm'rzes INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOPPING BAG Louis Mintzes, Island Park, N. Y. Application February 24, 1948', Serial No. 10,340

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a foldable full-closure shopping bag which is made of pliable fabric and convertible to form a clean package for carrying in a handbag or a traveling bag.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and convenient foldable shopping bag, comprising a reversible pocket for concealing the bag fabric which is soiled in use, and for forming a package suitable for carrying in a pocketbook or hand bag.

Another object of this invention is to form the shopping bag with a reversible pocket of an area less than the area of the shopping bag, the pocket starting at the lower edge of the shopping bag, and to position the opening ofthe pocket so as to face in an upward direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shopping bag formed in foldable compact and clean package form and which package will occupy no more room than a purse.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shopping bag made of two rectangular sections of pliable fabric connected at the sides and at the bottom by inverted pleats, to permit the bag to be opened at the top and assume a rectangular cross-section throughout its height.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a developed plan view of a blank from which the shopping bag is made.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bag in open position.

Figure 3 is a top view of the bag in closed position.

Figure 4 is a view showing the bag folded lengthwise into pocket width.

Figure 5 is a view showing the-bag folded to two thirds of its length.

Figure 6 is a view showing the bag folded to pocket size.

Figure '7 is .a view showing the entire bag folded into the pocket.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral It indicates a blank or body member for a shopping bag Illa which is made of pliable fabric.

The blank or body member I0 comprises a 2 pliable side wall II, a complementary side wall I2 and a bottom wall IS. The bottomwall is preferably integral with the side walls, as shown in Figure 1.

The side wall H has two upright rectangular extensions [4 which are foldable along crease lines l5. The side wall [2 has two upright rectangular extensions 16 which are foldable along crease lines I1.

In assembled relation, the extensions [4 and I6 are stitched together at their outer edges and are folded inwardly of the side walls to form an inverted pleat [8 at each end of the bag.

The side walls II and i2 have lower extensions 20 which are foldable upwardly along a crease line 21. The lower edges 22 of the ex tensions M are stitched to the edges. 23 of one of the lower extensions 20. The lower edges 19 of the extensions l6 are stitched to the edges 23 of the other lower extension 20. The lower extensions are folded upwardly to form an inverted pleat 24.

The upright inverted pleat l8 and the lower inverted pleat 24 make it possible for the rectangu lar side walls II and I2 to be moved in substantially parallel relation to and from each other. In full open position, the bag Illa assumes a rectangular cross-section throughout its height.

The side wall I I has a rectangular extension 25 having a cross-sectional area equal to the crosssectional area of the bag la in open position. The side wall 12 has a rectangularextension 26 having a cross-sectional area equal substantially to one-half of the cross-sectional area of the extension 25.

In assembled relation, the extension 25 has one-half the length of its edges 21 stitched to the upper edges 28 of the upright extensions I4. The extension 26 has its edges 30 stitched to the edges 3! of the upright extension [6.

Snap fastener elements 32 are secured to the lower surface at the free lengthwise edge of the extension 25. Complementary snap fastener elements 33 are secured to the upper'surface at the lengthwise edge of the extension 26 where the said edge connects with the upper edge of the side wall [2. The user may connect the fastener elements and thereby close the opening to the shopping bag to conceal the contents therein.

Flexible and pliable straps 35 are attached to the upper edge portions of the side walls II, l2 by stitching 36 or otherwise as desired. The straps function as handles for manually supporting and carrying the bag.

The $9 .6 Wall I has a superposed layer of fabric 31 and another superposed layer 38. Three edge portions of the layers 31 and 38 are secured to the side wall I I by suitable stitching 39.

A rectangular pocket 40 is formed by the two layers 31, 3B.

The pocket 40 when reversed exposes two clean outer surfaces. It is to be noted that the reversible pocket 40 starts at the lower edge of the side wall II and that it terminates at approximately one=third of the height of the side wall I I, It is also to be noted that the pocket 40 has a width slightly larger than one-third of the width of the bag.

The successive steps whereby the shopping 'bag 00, is converted into a clean hand bag sizepack-w age form are to place the straps inside the open bag and fold the bag crosswise twice to the width of the pocket 40, as shown in Figure 4.

The second step is to fold the bag lengthwise so that the upper edge of the bag is brought in alinement with the upper edge of the pocket 40; as shown in Figure 5.

The third step is to fold the bag to the size of the pocket 40 ,as shown in Figure 6.

The fourth step is to reverse the pocket 40, with the entire bag concealed inside the pocket, as shown in Figure 7, so as to convert the extended device shown in Figures 1 and-2 into the eompact hand bag package form shown inFigure 7.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as defined by the appended cla msclai 1'. In a shopping bag comprising front and rear pliable rectangularside walls, one of said id W ls ha n a ta ul P k e ter a y thereof and secured to said side wall near the bottom of said bag, said front and rear side walls being foldable into superposed, relation With said pocket to a size less than the entrance to said pocket, said bag in said folded form being refoldable intoa rectangular form slightly smaller than the cross-sectional area of said pocket,

whereby when said pocket is turned inside out said folded bag is insertible into said pocket and may be tucked therein with the soiled outer surface of said bag concealed inside said pocket, thereby providing a package having outer surfaces sufiiciently clean to be suitable for carrying in a handbag or the like.

2. In a shopping bag having an opening at the topand comprising front and rear pliable side walls, said frontwall having. a pocket externally thereof and secured to said wall near the bottom of said bag, the lower edge of said pocket being in alinement with the lower edge of said bag, the opening to said pocket facing in an upward direction, the Width of said pocket being less than the width of said bag, said front and rear side walls being foldable into superposed relation with saidpocket to a width less than the width of said pocket, said bag in said: folded form being foldable lengthwise into a rectangular form slightly smaller thanthe cross-sectional area of said pocket, whereby when said pocket is-turned inside out, saidfolded bag is insertible into said pocket with, the soiled outer surface of said bag concealed inside said pocket, thereby providing a package having outer surfaces sufficiently clean to be suitable for carrying in a handbag or the like,

LOUIS, MIN-'I'ZES.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the file of this-patent:

U TE TATE Number Name Date 1,506,926 Gunter l Sept. 2, 1924 1,517,160 Kane Nov. 25, 1924 1,550,470 'Iilden Aug. 18, 1925 1,666,704 Hunter Apr. 17, 1928 1,730,603 Carlson Oct; 8, 1929 EQRE GN; EATEN Number Country Date 469,953: France June- 4, 1914 131,707 Switzerland May 16, 1929 829,727 France Apr. 19, 1938 

